Conscience -- Volume 4

r. Phillis without strength, without confidence, without interior peace, such as she was now, could not give him what she no longer had herse

ranquillity and serenity of his wife, and her good moral health which passed into him when she slept on his shoulder. In that case there we

her this tranquillity and serenity, he was no longer calm; she was

leep. Why do

d y

ust

g from her, checked as he was by the fear of betraying himself, which seemed easy at the point he bel

n when questioning her, and to look for

is because you suffer.

does it

since she did not even dare to speak of

e, I assure you," she repeated. "

what I

hat do you think I

e suspected her of conc

watch yourse

do no

u to watch yours

ow

ing you

terrible that she

o that!"

htened, she at the threat, he at what he would learn from her. But to sho

of this uneasiness which escapes my examination as well as

more could I tell you when I a

hall

ask you not to attempt. Wo

ism is not

kno

have made

ou hav

know that you will run

he opened a door

me talk in a state of forced somnambulism, ask one of your

as certain he would not a

that she wishe

s about the past, concerning your life before we knew each

words? My confession! It comprises three words: I love you; I have never loved any one

hout showing the importan

said; "it is a way lik

it, and we will

fying terror. What would she say if he made her talk? Everything, possibly. She did not even know what thoughts were hidd

rovoke the hypnotic sleep. As soon as her husband left the house she looked for some book in the library that would enlighten her. But the dictionary that she found gave only obscure or confused instructions in which she floundered. The only

ed next to one of her husband's 'confreres', who she knew interested himself in somnambulism

rtain diseases who can be put

d with hysteria and nervous troubles could be put to sleep in this way, but it was a mist

l preserved

ypnotizer leaves him, who at his pleasure makes him sad, gay, a

t is fri

l paralysis of such or such a cell, the study of which

the subject remembe

elieve the memory depends upon the degree of sleep: with a light sleep there is remembrance,

lingly have said more, but she saw her husband at the other end of the table watching them by fits

to fear; and remembering what she had read, she promised herself that she would never let him place her in a position where h

nding her to sleep, she was reassured. Was not this a sign that he ac

deceived

mained at his work, she awoke suddenly and saw him standing near

matter? What

t nothing; I am

ld have taught her nothing. And besides, now that he no longer went to bed a

ght with a feeling of distress, and saw him leani

but her anguish was the more intense. Did he then wish to hypnotize her

her natural into an artificial sleep. Would he succeed? He knew

d that she was asleep. To assure himself, he raised her arm, which remained in the air until he placed it on the bed. Then taking her two hands, he turned them backward, and withdrawing his own, the impuls

sleep at the same time," he

eep even more easily, but when

not speak; it is horribl

d, but she

, to-morrow. But to-morrow I wish you to sp

mit to his will without being able to defend herself, but because he was ignorant whether, wh

, and nothing indicated that she was conscious of her provoked sleep

the night before. Would she answer? And if she consented, would she speak sincerely, without attempting to weaken or falsify the trut

you suffer

not su

ften melancholy or uneas

rouble

m af

of what?

yo

remb

you think that I

N

ened hear

y are yo

e things in you t

ings? Be

place in your temper, your

ese changes ma

te a serious

situ

I have never s

y n

and I closed my eyes so

e w

all that is myster

otice the myste

before, when you told me that you

ow who kil

N

moments he forgot to continue his inter

e; when you told me to go because you did not wish to see Madame Dammauville; when, the night b

have ju

ry urged me, my

s uneasiness outsi

sses of anger and of tenderness; your fear of being

ed?" he

, and moan, pronouncing broken wor

olent; when he rec

way of living that h

care not to c

t myse

not

t el

ment, when the name of Caffie is pronounce

at my anger on heari

g-I am